Uncoupling device



Patted Mar. 7, |899.

Wh Wim 1 J W ADDIS UNCGUPLSNG DEVICE. Y

(Application med Ear. 9, 189B.) v

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. ADDIS, OF MARSHALL, TEXAS.

UNCOUPLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,558, dated March 7,1899.

Application filed March 9, 1898.

T0 all whom it muy concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN IV. ADDIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marshall, in the county of Harrison and State of Texas, havemade a certain new and useful Improvement in Uncoupling Devices, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which- Figure l is a rear elevationalView of a locomotive-tender, illustrating my improved attachment foruncoupling cars in position thereon; and Fig. 2 is a detail plan view ofthe coupler and a part of my improved attachment secured to andcooperating therewith.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in means foruncoupling couplers of rolling-stock and is shown in the drawings asapplied to a locomotive-tender, although it is obvious that with propercouplings the device' would be as applicable to other rolling-stock.

The arrangement illustrated in the drawings is designed to be used inconnection with what is known as a twin-jaw coupler, and particularlythat style of coupler known as the Miller coupler, wherein the coupleris pulled or rocked out of engagement with its twin or matching couplerof another car'in uncoupling.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable, eective,and inexpensive means for uncoupling cars, obviating the necessity of aperson passing between the cars to effect said uncoupling, therebyavoiding the liability of accidents.

Another object of this invention is to eifect the uncoupling withoutmaking it necessary for any of the crew leaving the train, and, ifdesired, the uncoupling may be made without having the train, if moving,come to a full stop.

The essential features of the invention reside, first, in the novelconstruction and arrangement of the spring which cooperates with andcauses the coupler to normally occupy a correct position for coupling;second, in the novel construction and arrangement of the cylinder andpiston and the means con- Serial No. 673,186. (No model.)

necting said piston with the coupler, whereby said coupler is rocked ordrawn out of engagement with its interlocking coupler to uncouple thecars; third, in the novel arrangement of the duid-conducting pipe withthe cylinder, said fluid-pipe being designed to admit iuid to operatethe piston and leading to a convenient point, preferably in the cabin ofthe locomotive, whereby by means of a proper valve the fluid may becontrolled by an 0perator, and, iinally, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all aswill hereinafter be fully described and afterward pointed out in theclaim.

In the drawings, A indicates a coupler of any ordinary construction,which is normally held in proper position for coupling by a spring B,suitably placed and preferably se cured to the buffer C.

D indicates a connection, preferably flexible and in the vform of achain, one end of which is secured or attached at a suitable point tothe coupler A, while the other end of said connection D is secured tothe end of a piston-rod E, said piston-rod being provided at its otherend with asuitable piston, adapted to slide lin a cylinder F, saidcylinder being preferably located on or secured to the end sill of thecar or tender.

As the connection of the chain D with the couplerA is not in perfectalinement with the travel of the piston-rod E, said chain D is designedto pass over a small sheave or roller G, preferably'secured to andproperly posi'- tioned on the end sill of the car or tender and inalinement with said pistonrod.

H indicates a pipe adapted to communicate with the inside of thecylinder F, preferably between the piston and one end of said cy1=inder.

h indicates a valve on the pipe H and is dee signed to be manuallyoperated for admitting or shutting off fluid-pressure for operating thepiston when it is desired to manipulate the piston in uncoupling.

The pipe H is preferably connected to a main supply-pipe H', said pipeI-I being designed by proper connections to enter theV IOO The operationof the device is as follows: When it is desired to uncouple the car orcars, the valve in the cabin of the engine is opened, thereby admittingfluid-pressure (preferably air or steam) into and through the pipes Hand II into the cylinder F, forcing the piston therein toward theopposite end of the cylinder, thus drawing the piston-rod E in theproper direction to cause the connection D to pull or rock the outer orfree end of the coupler A a sufficient distance to uncouple it from itslocking companion. The rocking of the coupler A is against the tensionof the spring B, and when the valve in the cabin of the engine is closedsaid valve, which is preferably a threeway valve, whose construction andoperation are well understood, permitsv the exhaust or escape of theduid-pressure from behind the piston in cylinder F, and the tension ofthe spring B forces the coupler A back intoits original or normalposition, such position being proper for automatic coupling, as is wellunderstood. It will thus be seen that the spring B not only acts as anagent in recovering the coupler after the coupler has been uncoupled,but also causes the coupler to resume its correct position after saidcoupler has been forced outwardly by the contact with a coupler ofanother car in automatic coupling.

As the construction of this class of coup lers is well understood andknown, I do not deem it necessary to further describe the same.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my device can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without in the leastdepartingfrom the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

In an uncoupling device, the combination with a coupling-jaw pivoted toa car-frame, a cylinder securely held in position at the end of a car onthe outside in substantially the plane of the coupler, a fluid-.thrownpiston in said cylinder, a piston-rod connected to said piston andarranged to operate 'at right angles to the coupler, a sheave or rollersecured to the end of the car intermediate the coupler and piston-rod, aiiexible connectionfattached at its respective ends to the coupler andpiston-rod and working under the sheave or roller whereby there isstraight and positive pull on the coupler when the piston is withdrawn,and a spring in substantially the plane of the cylinder for normallyretaining the jaw in coupling position, substantially as described. 4

In testimony whereof] hereunto affix my signature, in the presence ot'two witnesses, this 1st day of March, 1898.

JOI-IN XV. ADDIS. lVitnesses:

EDWARD S. MARSHALL, HUGH K. WAGNER.

